10 Best Beaches in Somerset
Head Out of Bath on a Road Trip to the Beaches of Somerset
Somerset has a variety of beaches to explore whether you’re looking for fun in the sun, beachcombing, coastal hikes or a fun afternoon playing in the sand with the dog. You can choose a vibrant seaside resort destination with all kinds of fun activities and attractions, quiet and secluded beaches that provide comfort and privacy, or untamed beaches with wildlife, fossils and challenging hikes.
However you want to spend your time on the shore, take a look at our pick of the best beaches in Somerset to plan your adventure.
1. Minehead Beach
Go for a swim or a lovely stroll by the Bristol Channel
Good for: Couples, Families
Minehead Beach is a beautiful sand beach that turns to a pebble beach near the harbor. In the sandy neighborhoods, visitors enjoy sunbathing, bathing and water sports, as well as taking the kids wading in the calm waters.
Located on the south bank of the Bristol Channel, you can see the gorgeous Wales coast from the shoreline. The beach is also close to town, which is home to seaside resorts, historic Victorian and Georgian buildings and waterfront dining and nightlife.
Location: Warren Rd, Minehead TA24 5SJ, UK
Minehead Beach
2. Middle Hope Beach
A great spot for hiking and fossil hunting
Good for: Couples, Families
Stretching out from the Sand Point peninsula, Middle Hope Beach is a quiet beach area on a shingle cove. Offering more scenic beauty and serenity than the energetic pier neighborhoods, Middle Hope Beach is backed by farmland and rests on the Bristol Channel.
The beach is ideal for people who enjoy hiking along the coast and checking out the views of the Bristol Channel and the coastal rock formations. Beachcombing and fossil hunting are also popular at Middle Hope Beach.
Location: Kewstoke, Weston-super-Mare BS22 9UD, UK
Middle Hope Beach
3. Brean Beach
One of the longest beaches in Europe
Good for: Couples, Families
Brean Beach stretches for seemingly endless miles and is a beautiful beach outside of Weston-super-Mare. It’s one of the longest beaches in Europe and is popular for beach sports, coastal hikes and dog walking.
A natural pier created by the headland offers more challenging hikes and spectacular views of the Somerset Levels and Bristol Channel. Nearby, you’ll find an array of archeological sites with Stone Age and Roman remnants to explore. One of the highlights is a 19th-century defense fort at the summit.
Location: Brean Down Rd, Brean, Burnham-on-Sea TA8 2RS, UK
Brean Beach
4. Burnham-on-Sea Beach
A traditional seaside resort community
Good for: Couples, Families
Also known as Main Beach, Burnham-on-Sea Beach is a traditional seaside resort with a pristine stretch of sand. As you’d expect of a traditional resort, it also has a seaside promenade with Victorian and Edwardian homes.
The beach is popular for travelers and includes many exciting amusements for beachgoers, such as donkey rides on the sand and classic seaside attractions. Visitors can find tour operators to enjoy such activities as boating, sailing and riding personal watercraft. Dogs are allowed on the beach in the off-peak seasons.
Location: Malecon, Burnham-on-Sea TA8 1BG, UK
Burnham-on-Sea Beach
5. Weston-super-Mare Beach
One of the longest natural beaches in the UK
Good for: Couples, Families
Weston-super-Mare Beach is a popular seaside resort area at the gateway to the South West of England. It’s one of the longest natural beaches in the UK and rests on the Bristol Channel coast.
Locals enjoy walking and outdoor sports in the off-peak season, but the warm spring and summer months bring droves of people to the golden sands. The beach also has a variety of events throughout the year, including the Weston Beach Race and the Weston-super-Mare Air Festival.
Location: Marine Parade, Weston-super-Mare BS23 1AT, UK
Weston-super-Mare Beach
6. Dunster Beach
Ride a steam train by the picturesque shore
Good for: Couples, Families
Dunster Beach is a wide, sandy beach with pebbled neighborhoods and gorgeous views of Blue Anchor Bay and the Bristol Channel. Located near Exmoor, the beach is a popular coastal hiking area and fishing area. Visitors also enjoy bathing and water sports.
Nearby, you’ll find a golf course and a vacation village for shopping and dining. Another highlight of visiting Dunster Beach is riding the West Somerset Railroad Line, which passes near the beach and provides a heritage steam train ride in the Quantock countryside.
Location: Sea Ln, Dunster, Minehead TA24 5UH, UK
Dunster Beach
7. Kilve Beach
Search for marine life in the rock pools
Good for: Couples, Families
Kilve Beach is a rocky beach between Minehead and Bridgwater, with soft, sandy neighborhoods, grassy neighborhoods and rock pools to search for marine life. Visitors enjoy picnicking in the grassy spots to enjoy the sea breezes and views. Dogs are allowed on the beach as well.
One of the most appealing aspects of Kilve Beach is the geology. The cliffs have layers of fossils in oil-rich yellow and brown shale deposits, which you may be able to see on a coastal hike.
Location: Bridgwater TA5 1EG, UK
Kilve Beach
8. Brean (South) Beach
Explore the local marshlands
Good for: Couples, Families
Brean (South) Beach is a portion of the long Brean Beach near Burnham-on-Sea. The beach offers sandy spots, quiet dunes and marshlands to explore. With the marshes and mudflats, the beach is popular for nature lovers looking to spot wildlife. You can also ride horses on the beach.
Water sports are popular at Brean Beach, including sailing, windsurfing, boating, fishing and riding personal watercraft. In the nearby town, you’ll find a variety of seaside resort neighborhoods and piers for seaside amusements and attractions.
Brean (South) Beach
9. Stolford Beach
A popular fishing and dog walking beach
Good for: Couples, Families
Stolford Beach is a pebbled beach nestled in the mudflats of the Bristol Channel that’s a popular spot for dog walking, coastal hikes and fossil hunting. The beach has bands of shale and limestone deposits, which reveal fossils and other geological wonders at low tide, as well as rock pools where you can catch marine life when the tide is low.
Many visitors come to Stolford Beach for its fishing opportunities since it’s a quieter beach in the Somerset seaside area.
Location: Stolford, Bridgwater TA5 1TW, UK
Stolford Beach
10. Sand Bay Beach
Explore the wide-open spaces of the bay
Good for: Couples, Families
Sand Bay Beach is a picturesque coast near Sand Point, north of the Weston-super-Mare resort area. It’s one of the wilder beaches in Somerset, making it appealing for nature lovers and hikers.
The beach itself is a combination of sand and shingle, so it attracts swimmers and fishermen. Dogs are also welcome at Sand Bay, so you can hike with your pet and take in the coastal views that stretch to South Wales. Nearby, you can find parking and a few concessions.
Location: Beach Rd, Kewstoke, Weston-super-Mare BS22 9UE, UK
Sand Bay Beach
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